High-level committee formed to study civil aviation sector

KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 22: The government has established a high-level committee to conduct a comprehensive study of Nepal's civil aviation sector, which has been plagued by frequent accidents.

Formed during the Cabinet meeting on Friday, October 18, the committee will be chaired by former Supreme Court Justice Anil Kumar Sinha.

According to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, the committee's primary objective is to assess the civil aviation industry in an effort to create a safe and reliable aviation system.

The committee includes several experts, such as aviation management specialist Rajendra Bahadur Singh, aviation security expert Bheshraj Subedi, and air service operation and quality control management expert Captain Riwaj Prasad Pradhan. Additionally, a joint secretary from the Ministry will serve as the member-secretary.

Ramkrishna Lamichhane, the Ministry's Joint Secretary and Spokesperson, informed that the committee has been tasked with recommending improvements to the nation's aviation sector and ensuring the safety of the Nepali skies.

Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey presented appointment letters to the committee members on Monday, October 21. The committee is expected to commence its work shortly.

The formation of this committee follows a troubling history, with over 100 air crashes recorded in Nepal since 1955, resulting in more than 900 fatalities, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN). The preliminary investigation report of the Saurya Airlines plane crash on July 24 identified shortcomings from both the regulator and the operator as contributing factors to the incident.

Experts criticize lawmakers for being continuously lackadaisical towards improving aviation safety in Nepal.